I’ve been waiting to use these photos snapped a couple of weeks ago. I am fascinated by hummingbird moth caterpillars ( also known as hornworms or tomato hornworms) and in spite of the fact that I’ve been taking photos of their different stages for 16 years, I’ve still never seen a moth! Unfortunately, these fellows make a terrific mess on my patio table or I’d leave them alone. You can see the large brown pellets they leave in two of the photos, and caterpillar poop on my patio table is just not a pleasant prospect. As it is, Pasiano goes on a Virginia creeper safari whenever we see evidence of them, then puts them down on the lot below me. I even found one myself this year! They are outer space-looking, don’t you agree? They are all different stages of the same caterpillar. Click first photo to enlarge all. You won’t be sorry. They are fascinating creatures.

(Click on first photo to create a slide series, then click on right side of each photo to go on to the next. All will be enlarged.)

G’Day Mate!!!

Today Was A Good Day! Among other things, Pasiano and Yolanda and I unpotted plants from burst pots and replanted them in new spots in the garden or in new pots.

Here is our pile of broken pots–big ones! We will put the shards over the ground in places we don’t want Morrie to dig!

Here is my newly potted pineapple plant, now in the sun where it will actually grow fruit. Before it was practically obscured by other plants.

And here is the rascal who has been eating my Virginia Creeper!!! We’ve been looking for him for weeks! As you can see, he had just taken a chunk out of a leaf when Pasiano nabbed him. If anyone knows what kind of moth he turns into, please let me know. I once researched it but can’t remember. We relocated him onto my spare lot. Hope he likes Castor bean plants as much as Virginia Creeper! The mystery was solved within a minute of my posting when MLou wrote that this fella (or lady) is a Tomato Hornworm. I looked it up and sure enough, she is right. It grows into a Hummingbird Moth, which is so called because it looks and acts amazingly like a hummingbird. I’ve never seen one, so I think we are doing too good a job of getting rid of the caterpillar stage. One year I had one as a pet. It is a remarkable story that I will try to post later.

Look how he holds on to the branch with his five sets of legs. So proper looking like a butler.

I love his little tail that looks like one of those brushes you buy to clean between your teeth! His coffee bean tattoos.

His mouth like a rattlesnake rattle or if you take his entire head into account, like a parrot’s beak. Fascinating little outer-space-looking creatures that I wouldn’t mind having around if they wouldn’t absolutely decimate my Creeper vines!!! This fella was about 4 inches long.

Here is my Virginia Creeper minus ET.

Yes, it has been a good day. Tonight I’m going dining and dancing with a friend and although today is sunny and bright, everything is verdant green because of the daily rains we have been having.

On Monday, my covered patio looked like this! The water couldn’t drain fast enough and was inches deep.

This odd little object sticking up from my terrace floor that looks like a chandelier globe is actually formed by water that can’t get down the drain fast enough. I think there was a leaf obstructing the flow.

When my plants are happy, I’m happy, and doesn’t this look like a cheerful bunch?